Premier League's 8 bizarre loan transfers as Man Utd fail with Emi Martinez offer

Daily Mirror

22-07-2025

Manchester United tried and failed with a loan move for Emi Martinez but the Premier League has seen some bizarre temporary switches over the years - involving the likes of Renato Sanches, Grant Holt and David Pizarro
Manchester United's audacious bid for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, surprisingly, did not come off, but they aren't the only club to chance their arm with a temporary move like that.
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The Red Devils are weighing up what to do at No 1 with Andre Onana injured and facing a race against time to be fit for the Premier League's opening weekend. Martinez has been linked with a move away from Villa Park, but on a permanent basis.
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United attempted to see whether they could get the Argentine on a short-term basis. For Villa though there was nothing to gain and the offer was hit with a quick no.
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It wouldn't have been the weirdest loan move to ever take place however. Throughout the history of England's top flight clubs have looked to plug gaps, be it for a couple of months or for a season, and that has led to players making the most surprising of moves.
Martinez, a World Cup winner and first choice goalkeeper where he is, would've had to swap the team who finished sixth for one who ended in 15th. It would've been a switched that wouldn't have suited his parent club, who valued him at around £40m.
The most eye-raising loan moves have often stemmed from a club needing to get a player, no matter how big his reputation, back into form. We take a look at some of the short-term switches that have happened over the years - some proving rather unsuccessful.
Jese - PSG to Stoke
A career path that goes Real Madrid, PSG, Stoke City is always going to make people ask questions. The Spaniard had fallen down the pecking order at both clubs but things started with a bang as he scored the winner on his debut against Arsenal. That was about as good as it got though and he walked out of the stadium when then manager Mark Hughes left him on the bench on one occasion. He experienced personal issues himself and couldn't stop the Trotters being relegated.
Steven Caulker - QPR to Liverpool
So the centre-half was on the books of QPR and couldn't prevent them going down, but his stock was high enough that Southampton offered the defender the chance to stay in the Premier League. His loan was cancelled mid-season and his Championship club sanctioned a loan to the Reds, where Jurgen Klopp was in charge. He only played four times, but two of those had him as a makeshift striker.
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Andy Goram - Motherwell to Man Utd
In March 2021 Sir Alex Ferguson had a bit of an injury crisis with Fabien Barthez and Raimond van der Gouw struggling for fitness. His next move? Give Motherwell a call and go after Goram, then into his mid-30s. United received UEFA's permission to sign a goalkeeper on loan and came up with £100,000 to get Goram from north of the border.
The player actually thought it was Ally McCoist playing a prank on him such was his shock and initially hung up. He would play just twice for the Red Devils and was subbed off in both games having failed to keep a clean sheet in either outing.
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Andy Booth - Sheffield Wednesday to Tottenham
When the north London side needed a striker in January they took the unusual step of turning to the old Division One, now the Championship, for a striker who hadn't scored a league goal since August. Nevertheless, they went after the Owls star. Booth moved to Spurs for a month as cover for the injured trio of Les Ferdinand, Steffen Iversen and Chris Armstrong. Director of football David Pleat claimed he had the opportunity to make a real point, but he failed to make it. Rules at the time didn't allow loan deals between top-flight sides, but Booth returned to Sheffield without scoring.
Renato Sanches - Bayern Munich to Swansea
The teenage sensation won Euro 2016 with Portugal, was named the Young Player of the Tournament and won the Golden Boy award which sealed a move to Bayern Munich. He was tipped to take European football but storm but struggled and eventually found himself in Wales. The Swans thought it was a coup when they landed him, but he was anything but and Sanches flopped, playing just 12 times in the league.
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Roque Junior - AC Milan to Leeds
One of those deals that, on the face of it, looked a good bit of business. A World Cup winner with Brazil and a Champions League winner at AC Milan. His move to Elland Road would be a disaster and the centre-half was sent-off on his Leeds debut against Birmingham. He would play six more times and across those Leeds conceded 25 times in those seven games, losing six. His loan move ended within months of him moving to Yorkshire.
Grant Holt - Wigan to Aston Villa
The veteran striker defied all his doubters when it first came into the Premier League with Norwich, scoring 15 times. He went from League Two to the top flight in three years, but later left the Canaries to join Wigan. He was by no means prolific, but Villa still chose to come calling as they looked for goals in their attack. Sitting in mid-table, they landed Holt, who would only score once in ten games.
David Pizarro - Roma to Man City
If you struggle to remember a loan move, that's never a great gauge of how its gone. David Pizarro had been a regular for years at a competitive Roma side and the midfielder signed for City on loan in January 2012, back when Roberto Mancini was in charge. He would only make seven appearances in all competitions, scoring just the once.